I’m using the Ann Budd basic mitten pattern to do fingerless mitts to complete this set (hat and scarf).

On my hat I got a gauge of 15 sts X 20 rows in 4” using 5.5 mm needles (4.0 mm for the 2 X 2 ribbing).

I’d like these to be snug and the fabric to be a good tight weave for warmth, so I’m going to use 3.75 mm needles for the 1 X 1 ribbing and 5.0 mm needles (casting on with 6 mm needles) for the stockinette sections of the mitts. I’ll also make the ribbed cuff a little shorter since I don’t have any extra yarn.

I’ll use the invisible increase from Tech Knitter’s blog for the gusset rather than directional increases. (http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/05/very-nearly-invi... The “invisible” increase is knitting a second stitch in the row below to form an increase in the current row. This is not the same as the knit 1 below technique of stitch patterns which add colorwork or ribbed textures of various types).

I’m taking fully detailed hand measurements for future use, although I only need a few for fingerless mitts.

Hand Measurements

Circumferences:

1. Hand at palm (over knuckles) 7”
2. Hand over thumb joint 8.75”
3. Wrist over bone 6”
4. Thumb 2.5”
5. Fingers (above palm/knuckles) 6”

Lengths: individual fingers (wrist to base/tip):

1. Little finger 2.25” (4.5”/6.75”)
2. Ring finger 3” (4.75”/7.75”)
3. Middle (longest) finger 3” (5”/8”)
4. Index finger 2.75” (5”/7.75”)
5. Thumb 6” (4”/2”)

Length from wrist to cover knuckles for fingerless mitts 5”, so total mitt lengths will be 7”.

I’m going to do a long-tail cast-on of 30 sts which is a size for 7.5” hand in a gauge of 4 (my hat gauge was 3.75). Hopefully this will make them snug enough because I’m aiming for a slightly tighter gauge on smaller needles, but I’m sure I’ll still add some elastic to the ribbing edges when complete.

Errors and changes I made that I need to repeat on the second mitt:

1. I did the second increase round immediately after the first one.
2. I knit one plain round before putting the gusset stitches on a holder.
3. I used the invisible increase instead of a backward loop cast-on for the first single stitch to bridge the gusset before continuing the palm.
4. I used two stitches at the gap to pick up the second gusset stitch, using the invisible increase, before continuing the thumb.
5. I wasn’t knitting as tightly on the upper ribbing, so it is a bit looser than the cuff.
6. I used half of the couple yards of leftovers from the hat’s skein to finish the thumb. There’s enough for the second mitt’s thumb if needed (eta: wasn’t needed).

First mitt measurements total 7 inches in length, and it is a perfect, comfortable fit in circumference at every point.

Oddly enough, though I used smaller needles, my gauge still seems to be 3.75 (15 sts in 4”) across the stockinette palm. However I was using dpns on this and circulars on the hat, so that may account for it. Or maybe I was just watching a more exciting movie.

Lengths

1. Wrist 1 X 1 ribbing 2.25”
2. Palm 3.25”
3. Knuckle 1 X 1 ribbing 1.5”

All done. My gauge was tighter on the second mitt, but the fit is fine so it’s all good.

Oddly they ended up having a similar orange tweed effect right in the middle of the hand and thumb. I didn’t plan it, although I did have to join yarn at the thumbs, so I did make them match there.

I have the barest amount of scraps left, in three pieces.